A logo of Swiss bank UBS is seen on their branch in Bern, Switzerland, April 21, 2026. REUTERS
ZURICH, April 29 (Reuters) – Swiss bank UBS posted better-than-expected first-quarter net profit on Wednesday, helped by record trading revenues amid market turbulence triggered by the war in the Middle East.
Switzerland’s biggest bank reported net profit attributable to shareholders of $3.0 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 80% year-on-year and beating an average estimate of $2.3 billion in a company-provided poll of analysts.
In its investment banking division, revenues jumped 27% year-on-year, boosted by an all-time high in the trading arm, while underlying transaction-based income in global wealth management rose 17%.
Markets have remained broadly resilient so far in the second quarter, reflecting expectations that a durable diplomatic solution to the Middle East conflict is achievable, UBS said in a statement accompanying its results.
However, risks are elevated and conditions could change quickly, which may affect client sentiment, the bank added.
UBS reasserted its intention to repurchase at least $3 billion of shares in 2026, saying it was on track to do so by the end of July and aimed to do more by year-end, depending on visibility of parliamentary deliberations on capital rules.
The Swiss government last week granted UBS concessions on planned new capital rules but stuck to its key demand that the bank fully capitalise its foreign units, an item on which parliament is the final arbiter.
UBS will continue to engage constructively on Swiss capital rules, CEO Sergio Ermotti said. “These developments do not, and will not, change who we are as a firm.”
Reporting by Ariane Luthi; Editing by Jacqueline Wong
